Hockeytown, USA? Hockey-happy Pittsburgh ready to showcase growth of game during Frozen Four

The arrival of the NCAA Frozen Four in Pittsburgh this week is letting the city showcase its blossoming love of the game.

Pittsburgh already has one of the NHL's best teams in the Penguins and the game's brightest star in Sidney Crosby. The team's popularity has helped hockey flourish at a grass roots level. Youth leagues are burgeoning and western Pennsylvania is annually churning out quality players and sending them to either major colleges or the professional ranks.

In less than a decade Robert Morris, which is hosting the Frozen Four at Consol Energy Center, has evolved from a fledgling program to one on the verge of making the NCAA tournament. School officials say they view the weekend as a chance to entice the NCAA to make Pittsburgh a frequent stop for the event.